Finding rats in your home is never a fun experience. Not only are rats a health concern and anuisance, but they can cause severe damage to your property. Rats are chewers by nature. While rodent droppings might be your first sign of a problem, missing or chewed up items is…

Loose joints in pieces of furniture can be dangerous. Joints loosen over time with use of the furniture, or as the bonds between the two parts weaken. It’s important to fix them as soon as possible to avoid any injuries. Epoxy fills gaps while also repairing the wiggle. Buy a…

Extension cords are getting more expensive due to the rise in copper prices. Keep your extension cords in good condition by replacing damaged plugs and sockets. Cut off the old plug from the end of the cord. Use a knife to cut the jacket coating on the outside of the…

Ladders can be cumbersome when it comes time to store them, but did you know that keeping them low is much easier than trying to tuck them into a crawlspace or an overhead storage rack in your garage? You may have overlooked some valuable storage space along the lower parts…

Everybody wants a safe home. Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as just keeping doors locked and the structure maintained. There are many surprising areas where your home may be exposing you and your family to unsafe conditions, and it’s probably not what you think. Mold One of the most…

Professional vs. DIY Floor Refinishing When it comes to refinishing your floors, you might think it’s a bargain to DIY and refinish them yourself. But, if you’re working with old flooring or irreplaceable wood, you may want to stop and rethink that decision for a moment—you’ll be living with the…

Most cabinets are designed with horizontal storage in mind. While this works for the basics, there are plenty of items in a kitchen that could benefit from vertical storage options. Cookie sheets, cake pans, muffin tins and other tall baking equipment all store more easily vertically. Standing them on end…

Stop Wasting Money on Deck Repairs! When your deck begins to look as though it has seen better days, you may think it’s time to start replacing boards. Don’t be so hasty! Hardwood is quite pricey and continues to become more expensive over the years. Instead, there’s a cheaper and…

Ceiling fans move air around the room, saving you money on energy bills. In the summer, set the fan to run in a counterclockwise direction, moving cool air around the room. In winter, set the fan to clockwise to draw warm air up from the floor. To move the correct…

Have you ever carefully placed painter’s tape and painted a wall only for the tape to cause an uneven or jagged line once you remove it? Professional painters use a simple trick to prevent this. When you use painter’s tape to block an edge, the paint will likely cover part…

When your listing receives an accepted offer, expect the buyer to enlist the services of a home inspector before the contract is complete. Even a brand-new home isn’t perfect. Buyers often use home inspections to negotiate during the buying process. Home Inspection Purpose A home inspection is designed to ensure…

A motionactivated light can save energy and translate into monthly electricity bill savings. There’s a misconception that leaving a fluorescent light on saves more energy than turning it off and on. The Department of Energy recommends shutting off fluorescent lightbulbs if you’ll be out of the room for more than…

Smoke detectors can help protect you and your family in the event of a fire, but they need proper maintenance to work. Here are some tips for keeping your smoke detector running: Test a smoke detector monthly by pressing the test button. If the detector chirps, then it’s operational. Replace…